der link fürs Urheberrecht http://www.vier-pfoten.org/en/news-press/news/eu-conference-on-the-welfare-of-dogs-and-cats/
und der Text:
2013-09-02
For the first time, the European Commission is organising a conference on the welfare of dogs and cats together with the Lithuanian government in the frame of their Council Presidency. Partners are FOUR PAWS International, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), and Eurogroup for animals.
The aim of the conference is to bring together stakeholders from governments, veterinary and inspection authorities, breeders and NGOs to help promoting companion-animal welfare within the EU and abroad. It will provide an unprecedented opportunity to share views on how to tackle issues of pet welfare, public health and consumer protection including the commercial breeding and trade of dogs and cats.
The conference will also be dedicated to a recently launched study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices. Based on the outcome of the study and this conference’s proceedings, the Commission will consider what further action is necessary in order to improve animal welfare and to increase transparency and adequacy of information to consumers.
The conference is also one of the results of the successful political work of FOUR PAWS in Brussels. So far, the protection of companion animals has no clear legal basis within the competence of the European Union, apart from a few rules on health and trade. The commission does, however, promote the principle of Responsible Ownership. FOUR PAWS has been strengthening Companion Animal welfare on the EU level since 2008, resulting in several experts’ conferences, experts committees and the establishment of the fact based database projects on Companion Animals Responsible Ownership (http://www.carodog.eu and http://www.carocat.eu).

